Hand-openable cap for containers



A ril 19, 1966 v. R. WELBER 3,246,785

HAND-OPENABLE GAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 15, 1964 I NVENTOR. YTRE'IL Rl KELBEE.

ATTYS.

United States Patent 3 246,785 HAND-OPENABLE CAP FOR CONTAINERS Virgil R. Welber, 2015 Fernwood, Toledo, Qhio Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,047 4 Claims. (Cl. 21546) This invention relates to closures or caps for bottles or similar containers which can be hand-opened without a bottle opener being required, and more particularly to a cap of this nature which can be handled by and applied to a bottle with conventional capping apparatus.

A number of types of closures for containers are now known which can be opened by hand. The vast majority of these closures, however, are designed to be removed and replaced a number of times and, as such, have usually been made of rubber or plastic. Such closures have been unsuitable for use with bottles of consumable liquids which build up pressure, in particular, and which are designed to be opened only once and the closure then discarded. The caps are unsuitable because they are unduly expensive or because they lack the holding power to withstand the high pressures built up in bottles during shipping and handling, and particularly in hot weather when gases inthe liquids can exert substantial pressure in the bottles.

While limited attempts haye heretofore been made i to provide bottles with caps which require no opener, such caps have had several defects. Most of the closures heretofore proposed have had tabs extending outwardly from the caps or closures, rendering it impossible for the caps to be handled by and applied to bottles with conventional capping apparatus. This is due to the fact that the crowner, which is lowered over the cap and forces the side walls into a groove below the bead of the bottle, must actually extend below the lower peripheral edge of the side wall of the cap. Consequently, any such tab would interfere with the crowner unless the tab were oriented in a particular manner on the bottle and a notch or other opening provided in the crowner. Also, a guide is used with the crowner to center the bottle with respect to the crowner, and the guide, for this purpose, comes down even farther over the bottle prior to the crowner contacting the cap. In such an instance, the guide also would require an opening for the tab.

Even where the tabs have not projected outwardly from the side walls of the bottle cap sufficiently to intenfere with the guide and crowner of the capping apparatus, nevertheless, the tabs have projected downwardly below the edges of the side walls of the caps and, as such, have required special orienting apparatus to orient the caps relative to the bottles and the crowner. Heretofore, the caps simply have been thrown in a container or hopper with the caps then oriented such that they are proper side up, after which they are fed down a chute and blown by air into the path of the crowner which then forces the oriented caps on the tops of the bottles. With the downwardly-projecting tabs heretofore proposed for the caps, however, the required orienting mechanism is rendered more complicated and larger in order to properly handle the caps, with substantial modifications required. Because of these defects, handopenable bottle caps heretofore proposed have been virtually commercially impractical.

The present invention relates to a cap for a closure such as a bottle which can be removed directly by hand without the necessity of employing a bottle opener, and is specifically designed for original use with bottles as sold to consumers, which bottles contain consumable liquids under pressure. The new bottle cap includes an opening tab which, prior to use, lies contiguous with the side wall and top of the cap, rendering the cap completcly suitable for use with conventional capping apparatus. The cap needs no special orientation whatsoever before being applied to a bottle and can be used with the hoppers and orienting mechanism now used with conventional bottle caps. The new bottle cap also will not interfere with the guide or the crowner of the capping apparatus no matter how far they are lowered over the bottle. In addition, the tab of the new cap does not project, prior to use, to any extent beyond the cap, so that there is no possibility for the tab to be hit and the cap to be accidentally opened during shipping. Further, since the tab does not project invitingly beyond the cap, there is little tendency for a consumer to be tempted to maliciously open the cap when the bottle is sitting on a store shelf, for example.

The new bottle .cap also provides a new concept in a method of opening a bottle because the tab, when extended outwardly from the cap, is bent or twisted over to one side to form a stiff lever by means of which the cap can be removed from the bead cf the bottle.

It is, theretore, a principal object of the invention to provide a hand-openable bottle cap which requires no special orientation before being applied to a bottle by capping apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handopenable bottle cap which can be applied to a bottle by standard capping apparatus including a conventional crowner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handopenable bottle cap which is inexpensive and can be made of substantially standard tin plate or other sheet steel used in conventional bottle caps.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a handopcnable bottle cap which cannot he accidentally knocked off during shipping or storing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of opening a cap for a bottle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, with parts broken away and with parts in section, of a bottle and a hand-openable cap having an opening tab located in shipping and storing position;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1, of the cap with the tab swung outwardly and with a partly bent or twisted position of the tab shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the cap shown in FIG. 2 with the tab bent or twisted around to an opening position;

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal cross section taken through the cap and the bent tab along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cap as shown in PEG. 2 but before being crimped on a bottle; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cap with a slightly modified tab when in flat position and when first formed.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a neck portion 10 of a conventional bottle carrying liquid under pressure includes a head 12 and, as shown, a reinforcing ridge 14- therebelow with a channel or groove 16 formed therebetween. Other bottles, such as the short-necked one way beer bottles or metal containers using conventional bottle caps, can also be used with the new bottle cap.

A bottle cap '18 according to the invention includes a main cap portion 20 and an opening tab 22. The cap portion 20 is basically similar to a conventional bottle cap having a generally circular top wall 24- with a sealing liner 26 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and an annular, flaring side wall 28 formed with a multiplicity of crimps 30 therearound. The sealing liner 26'can be of the usual material such as cork with a partial foil face or of plastic material. While the crimps 39 can be of a configuration similar to the As shown from the bottom in FIG. 5, the

from the bottle somewhat more easily than conventional caps and yet retains good closing power and resistance to pressure since the scallops provide a large surface on which the crowner can apply forceto the crimps. When the cap is crimped on a bottle, the crimps preferably have aradiusof no more than & inch and are approximately %.;inch long. The roundedconfigurations of the scallops of FIG. 5 are flattened somewhat when the cap is crimped on a bottle, as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

The tab 22, prior to being used, 'lies flatagainst the side Wall-28 and the top .24 of the cap. As such, the tab requires no particular'orientation prior to its application to the top of the bottle and a conventional hopper and orienting device can be used to place the cap right side up. In addition, the crowner and the guide of the capping apparatus can be lowered over the bottle as far as needed without any interference, any more so than with a conventional cap. Again, .as pointed out above, the tab 22 does not project at all from the cap so that there is no danger of it being hit and opening-the cap during handling, shipping, or storage. Because the tab does not project from the cap, there is no temptation for a consumer to mischievously remove the cap when the bottle is on a store shelf, for example. Further, the cap and tab can be made of conventional materials and it is not necessary to use softer materials, such as aluminum, for the cap, as has heretofore been required in some instances.

In a preferred form, the length of the tab 22 is at least equal to half the diameter of the top 24 of the cap and preferably does not exceed the diameter of the top 24 of the cap plus the height of the side wall 28. In this manner, the free end of the tab 22 will not extend out beyond the top 24 of the cap. 'It is possible, however, for the tab to project slightly beyond the top and be bent downwardly along the'side wall 28 opposite the portion where the tab is integrally connected. The width of the tab .22 is also important. It hasbeen found that the tab must be at least in the order of 4 inch wide to provide sufiicient strength for opening purposes, and yet should not exceed approximately one-third of the diameter ofthe top 24 or approximately /2 inch. If the tab is wider than this, it tends to distort the round shape of the side wall of the cap and does not fit as smoothly therewith prior to being bent outwardly and opened.

When the bottle contents are to be consumed or otherwise used, the tab 22 is swung outwardly to a generally horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 2, which is easily accomplished by grasping the free end of the tab adjacent the top 24 and swinging it outwardly. The tab is then bent over to form a lever for opening the cap. In the preferred form, the tab is bent over along a dotted line 32 in FIG. 2, which line separates the tab 22 into an inner portion 34 and an outer portion 36. The outer portion 36 is bent over, around and then under the inner portion 34 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and also is shown in cross section in FIG. 4. When so bent, the tab forms a lever with a longer edge 38 of the outer portion 36 of the tab bearing against an upper portion of the side Wall 28 of the cap 20. When the bent tab is then pushed upwardly, a lever action is formed due to the contact of the edge 38 with an upper portion of the side wall and due to the integral engagement of the inner tab portion 34 with the lower edge of the side wall. Because of the configuration of the tab, there is virtually no chance for it to bend as it is used to force the cap up and off the bottle.

While the tab 22 is shown with generally parallel sides,

they can be of various configurations as long as the base portion of the tab which extends upwardly over the side wall 28 of the cap is sufliciently narrow as to not interfere with the cap. Of course, the portion of the side wall adjacent the tab does not have crimps so that this portion should not be any wider than necessary, to prevent the possibility of leakage at this portion of the cap. The rest of the crimps maintain the seal 26 tightly against the top of the bead 12 so that leakage has not been a problem with the caps tested, although such could be a problem if the uncrimped portion were of sufficient width.

In the preferred form, the tab '22 has an offset 40 at an intermediate portion of one of the edges thereof at the end of the bend line 32. The offset 40 has two im portant functions. For one thing, it helps to determine the location of the bend line 32 which extends from an edge of the tab 22 at the point where it is integral with the side wall 28 of the cap to the edge of the tab at the offset 40. The bend more or less automatically occurs around this line when the outer portion 36 of'the tab is bent or twisted. Theolfsetdtl also accomplishes another important function. It has been found that with the edges of the tab straight, with no offset, then the outer tab portion '35 tends to be displaced laterally when the bent tab is pushed upwardly to release the cap. However, with the offset 41 the offset appears to act as a stop and prevents the lateral shifting of the portion 36 when the tab 22 is forced upwardly 'to release the cap. While the offset 40 is shown facing toward the cap, it can also face in the opposite direction. The direction shown is preferred, however, because when facing the otherdirection, the offset has a greater tendency to project downwardly when the tab is bent to the position of FIG. 3 and therefore tends to interfere with the thumb of the consumer.

In the preferred form, the lower end of the outer tab portion 36, located below the inner portion 34 shown in I FIG. 4, is simply pressed upwardly by the thumb of the consumer when it is desired to open the bottle. This spreads the side crimps and enables the crimps to be forced over the bead 12 in the usual manner.

A cap 42 employing a slightly modified tab 44 is shown in FIG. 6. The tab 44 is similar to the tab 22 except that'it'has a notch portion 46 at that portion where the tab is integral with the side wall 28. The notch 46 enables the portion of the tab which is integral with the side wall to be narrowed so that the portion of the side wall '28 having -no crimps is reduced. The notch also enables the tab to be bent over somewhat more easily and thereby be manipulated slightly more easily than with the tab 22.

Various modifications of the above-described embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that such modi fications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if they are within the'spirit and the tenor of'the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-openable, metal bottle cap comprising a generally circular top, a side wall structurally integral with said top and extending away therefrom, said side wall having a multiplicity of crimps in an outer edge portion thereof adapted to fit with a neck bead of a bottle of the type containing liquid under pressure, said crimps being scalloped and being of generally V-shaped configurations at their innermost extremities, said cap being capable of being oriented and applied to the bottle with conventional capping apparatus, said cap including a tab integral with an outer edge of said side wall and having a length exceeding one-half the diameter of said top and less than the diameter of said top and the height of said side wall, said tab being bent up over said side wall and lying flat on said top when said tab is applied to the bottle and before the cap is to be removed therefrom, said tab having substantially parallel side edges from the outer edge of said side wall to a point substantially intermediate the length of the tab, a first of said side edges having a projection thereon at said intermediate point, the junction between said projection and said first side edge providing a guide for forming a cap opening lever by bending said tab along a diagonal line of fold between said junction and a second point at the junction of said side wall and the other side edge, said tab having a width at the portion adjacent said side wall of at least onequarter inch and not more than one-third the diameter of said top.

2. A hand-openable, metal bottle cap comprising a generally circular top, a side wall structurally integral with said top and extending away therefrom, said side wall having a multiplicity of crimps in an outer edge portion thereof adapted to fit with a neck bead of a bottle of the type containing liquid under pressure, said cap being capable of being oriented and applied to the bottle with conventional capping apparatus, said cap including a tab integral with an outer edge of said side wall and having a length exceeding one-half the diameter of said top and less than the diameter of said top and the height of said side wall, said tab being bent up over said side wall and lying fiat on said top when said tab .is applied to the bottle and before the cap is to be removed therefrom, said tab having straight side edges from the outer edge of said side wall to a point substantially intermediate the length of said tab, a first of said side edges having a projection thereon at said intermediate point, the junction between said projection and said first side edge providing a guide for forming a cap opening lever by bending said tab along a diagonal line of fold between said junction and a second point at the junction of said side wall and the other side edge, said projection also stabilizing the bend line of the tab when the cap is being opened by upward pressure on said tab, said tab having a width at the portion adjacent said side wall of at least one-quarter inch and not more than one-third the diameter of said top.

3. A method of opening a bottle having a cap crimped thereon with a tab extending from a side wall of said cap, said method comprising bending said tab along a diagonal line, with the line dividing the tab into an inner portion toward the bottle cap and an outer portion away from the bottle cap, bending the outer portion over, around, and under the inner portion with an edge of the outer portion contacting the side wall of the bottle cap at a point above the portion from which the tab extends and pressing upwardly on said bent tab to spread the cap and remove it from the bottle.

4. A method of opening a bottle having a cap crimped thereon with a tab extending from a side wall of said cap, said tab having an offset along an edge thereof, said method comprising bending said tab along a diagonal line with one end of the line being adjacent the side Wall, and with the other end of the line being near said offset, with the line dividing the tab into an inner portion toward the bottle cap and an outer portion away from the bottle cap, bending the outer portion over, around, and under the inner portion with an edge of the outer portion contacting the side wall of the bottle cap at a point above the portion from which the tab extends, and moving upwardly said bent tab to spread the cap and remove it from the bottle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,937 9/ 1937 Spengler 215- 39 FOREIGN PATENTS 140,745 6/ 1948 Australia. 544,109 7/ 1957 Canada. 657,412 2/ 1963 Canada. 457,175 5/1950 Italy. 5 15,280 2/ 19-55 Italy.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examin'er. 

1. A HAND-OPENABLE, METAL BOTTLE CAP COMPRISING A GENERALLY CIRCULAR TOP, A SIDE WALL STRUCTURALLY INTEGRAL WITH SAID TOP AND EXTENDING AWAY THEREFROM, SAID SIDE WALL HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF CRIMPS IN AN OUTER EDGE PORTION THEREOF ADAPTED TO FIT WITH A NECK BEAD OF A BOTTLE OF THE TYPE CONTAINING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE, SAID CRIMPS BEING SCALLOPED AND BEING OF GENERALLY V-SHAPED CONFIGURATIONS OF THEIR INNERMOST EXTREMITIES, SAID CAP BEING CAPABLE OF BEING ORIENTED AND APPLIED TO THE BOTTLE WITH CONVENTIONAL CAPPING APPARATUS, SAID CAP INCLUDING A TAB INTEGRAL WITH AN OUTER EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL AND HAVING A LENGTH EXCEEDING ONE-HALF THE DIAMETER OF SAID TOP AND LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID TOP AND THE HEIGHT OF SAID SIDE WALL, SAID TAB BEING BENT UP OVER SAID SIDE WALL AND LYING FLAT ON SAID TOP WHEN SAID TAB IS APPLIED TO THE BOTTLE AND BEFORE THE CAP IS TO BE REMOVED THEREFROM, SAID TAB HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE EDGES FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL TO A POINT SUBSTANTIALLY INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH OF THE TAB, A FIRST OF SAID SIDE EDGES HAVING A PROJECTION THEREON AT SAID INTERMEDIATE POINT, THE JUNCTION BETWEEN SAID PROJECTION AND SAID FIRST SIDE EDGE PROVIDING A GUIDE FOR FORMING A CAP OPENING LEVER BY BENDING SAID TAB ALONG A DIAGONAL LINE OF FOLD BETWEEN SAID JUNCTION AND A SECOND POINT AT THE JUNCTION OF SAID SIDE WALL AND THE OTHER SIDE EDGE, SAID TAB HAVING A WIDTH AT THE PORTION ADJACENT SAID SIDE WALL OF AT LEAST ONEQUARTER INCH AND NOT MORE THAN ONE-THIRD THE DIAMETER OF SAID TOP. 